Heart Foundation Walking Encouraging older Australian s to get active, get social and to get out and about in their communities

Transcription

1 Heart Foundation Walking Encouraging older Australian s to get active, get social and to get out and about in their communities Michelle Wilson National Program Manager Heart Foundation Walking Heart Foundation Australia

2 Heart Foundation Walking The Heart Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support and funding for Heart Foundation Walking from the Medibank Community Fund and ACT Government through ACT Health. We are pleased to come together to offer Heart Foundation Walking across Australia. Heart Foundation Walking Slide 2

3 Why is the Heart Foundation in this space? Australia s leading independent heart health charity Purpose: to reduce premature death and suffering from heart, stroke and blood vessel disease in Australia. In Australia, heart disease claims a life every 12 minutes For all Hearts making a difference to Australia s heart health ( ) Heart Care Health Equity Heart Foundation Research Healthy Hearts A healthier food supply More active living A smoke-free Australia

4 About Heart Foundation Walking Australia s largest network of free community walking groups A social, fun, free and easy way for people to walk and be active Based on the successful Heart Foundation Just Walk It program - developed in Queensland in 1995 Launched nationally in December 2007 and has since grown to include walking groups in all Australian states and territories. Over the last 19 years, more than 70,000 Australians have participated in the Heart Foundation s walking groups Heart Foundation works in partnership with Local Coordinators to establish walking groups in their local community Volunteer Walk Organisers lead groups in their local area. Heart Foundation Walking Slide 4

5 About Heart Foundation Walking Aim to make regular walking enjoyable and easy, especially for people who are not usually active. Groups can be any size, and walk at various times, days, lengths and levels of difficulty. Everyone encouraged to walk at their own pace. HFW groups include: parents with prams general community over 50s shopping centres workplaces special needs (e.g. diabetes, CALD groups, disability services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups, etc)

6 HFW in the Community 2011 National Heart Foundation of Australia Heart Foundation Walking Slide 6

7 Facts and Figures As at 30 th September 2014: 20,009 participants incorporating 17,789 walkers 1,906 volunteer Walk Organisers 1,303 walking groups Australia- wide 314 Local Coordinators in local government and community settings 309 local government regions have HFW groups Heart Foundation Walking Slide 7

8 Program Model 2011 National Heart Foundation of Australia Heart Foundation Walking Slide 8

9 HFW support Resources Registration kits, poster & flyer templates, risk management, newsletters, merchandise for volunteers Media and promotion support HFW assists promotion through media release templates, providing state contacts for local stories and opportunities Live website Linked to comprehensive, centralised national database Evaluation and reports Collated information from registration forms that report on local physical activity Training resources professional development Online and print versions and annual National call centre Referrals, support and information

10 Training, Resources and Support enable HFW to be time efficient and cost effective Online implementation guide for Local Coordinators 4 hrs/ week establishment phase 1-2hrs/ week maintenance phase Volunteer Walk Organisers take ownership of the group very quickly assisting with promotion Insurance and risk management, participant kits, flyers, posters etc Once off registration Monthly attendance log (fax, , online, post in reply paid envelopes) Heart Foundation Walking Slide 10

11 Heart Foundation Walking Slide 11

12 National centralised database Participant information and demographics (e.g. age, gender, location, employment status). Monthly activity logs reporting # of walks completed by individuals (minutes of PA during HFW). Dashboard reports to Local Coordinators about HFW in their region (number of groups, walkers, date of last activity etc). Facilitation of the Walker Recognition Scheme reward walkers when their reach walking milestones e.g. 25 walks. Recruitment and retention rates for groups and participants. Integration with HFW website to enable online registrations and group information to be displayed using Google maps. Heart Foundation Walking Slide 12

13 Marketing and promotion Promotional templates Regular media releases Posters & Flyers Social media Facebook, Instagram HFW presence at conferences Articles in magazines, local papers Events You Tube clips Community Service Announcements Online advertising edm, digital ads Specific recruitment campaigns

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17 HFW successfully attracts population groups least likely to be active 71% 60 + years oldest walkers are in their 90 s 80% Female 26% Live alone 41% Annual household income < $40k 2% Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander 60% BMI overweight or obese Average group walks 49 mins once a week and has been active for 3.4 years Longest running group - 19 years Largest group has 362 participants 2011 National Heart Foundation of Australia Heart Foundation Walking Slide 17

18 HFW is sustainable Typical community based physical activity program has a six month retention rate of 50%. HFW consistently demonstrates retention rates well above this even at the three year mark. Heart Foundation Walking Slide 18

19 HFW Resources support recruitment and longevity 78% of Walkers and Walk Organisers rated the Walker Recognition Scheme as important. 70% of Walk Organisers and Local Coordinators agreed the Walker Recognition Scheme motivates their walkers. Events and trial walks are successfully used for recruitment and retention. Heart Foundation Walking Slide 19

20 Walker Recognition Scheme provides support, motivation and goal setting Milestone Registration Recognition received Welcome kit 25 walks Certificate + 30 % discount voucher for HFW merchandise + Wrist Pocket 50 walks Certificate + Key Ring, Magnetic Shopping List 100 walks Certificate + Commemorative Pin + Drink Bottle 200 walks Certificate + Commemorative Pin + Water Bottle Holder Waist Bag 500 walks Certificate + Mini First Aid Kit 1000 walks Certificate Walk Club Polo Shirt

21 Members join for health reasons but stay for social reasons Majority of respondents (80%) joined HFW for health reasons but main reasons for staying with HFW: Fun and friendship Safety Group motivation

22 HFW is important for health and community cohesion 90% of walkers surveyed reported HFW important for social and mental wellbeing. 80% of walkers surveyed reported HFW important for their health and fitness. As a widow living alone, the morning walk and chat uplifts me. The camaraderie is absolute tops, we have had three social functions for our members - walking has filled a void in life. It helps me overcome my urge play. I know I can call my friends for a walk if I need to even if it isn t our normal walking time. Member of Anti-Pokie Plodders HFW group

23 Golden Shoe Awards Recognising outstanding contributions by HFW participants 3 categories - Local Coordinator, Walk Organiser and Walker Peer nominated 311 nominations Highly Commended, State and National winners Case studies Local PR

24 Challenges Recruiting volunteers at times when the community want to walk Community capacity building takes time as does tailoring the group for local needs Local Coordinators have a varied experience, skills, knowledge Creating a resource that is comprehensive but allows for flexibility Promotional templates Co-branding with local government, health services, community groups, etc Addressing needs in remote and very remote communities Addressing barriers for multicultural communities Important to link with appropriate Local Coordinators Translation of key resources

25 Conclusion Findings suggest HFW is an appropriate framework to: engage older Australians in fun, free, social activity through a community partnership approach; train, resource and skill communities to establish and maintain walking programs; build and maintain social cohesiveness; reach populations who are least likely to walk / participate in physical activity; and develops long term walking behaviours. Heart Foundation Walking Slide 25

26 Promotional Clips Step to it (30 secs) Frank s Story (30 secs) We Love Walking! (2min49) How HFW helps my dementia Frank s Story (3min58)

27 P: E: W: Heart Foundation Walking Slide 27